For a remarkable five weeks back in 2015, an array of A-list stars including Brad Pitt, Jack Black, and Nicholas Hoult were seen descending upon the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. Rarely had the North Somerset promenade been a hotspot for celebrity sightings as the locale was considered rather worn and neglected.
Yet, this very aspect rendered it an ideal setting for the elusive artist Banksy’s provocative ‘Dismaland’ pop-up exhibition, portraying a grim twist on a seaside amusement park, which he called a “bemusement park”, reports The Express.
Reflecting on that period, North Somerset Council executive member for business and economy, Councillor Mark Canniford said: “One of the key messages from Banksy’s Dismaland reflected how run down the nation and Weston-super-Mare was. Hence why he picked Weston as a location.”
But the narrative of the town has undergone quite a transformation, with “the situation has now changed greatly”. Dismaland didn’t just attract Hollywood stars, it brought in 150,000 visitors from all over the globe, significantly impacting the local economy boosting it by £20m.
Fast forward ten years and the prospects for Weston-super-Mare are far from ‘dismal’. Fuelled by a ten-year vision for renewal and regeneration, known as ‘Super Weston’, the plan took shape after consultation with over 5,000 locals in 2018. The community yearned for an economy rich in experiences, booming arts, and vibrant cultural offerings.
Banksy’s Dismaland, a renowned art installation, once took over The Tropicana, a former lido and outdoor swimming pool site that was left abandoned from 2000. For 15 years, the building stood vacant, until The Bay Cafe moved into the front section, followed by Banksy’s project later that year.
However, new plans are afoot to revitalize the site, transforming it into a thriving entertainment and leisure hotspot. The proposal entails replacing the internal building with a new structure designed to host indoor events for approximately 1,000 attendees, effectively increasing the venue’s total capacity to 5,000. The main 1930s promenade building will undergo repairs.
These plans form part of the council’s broader vision for Weston, made possible by the authority’s successful £20m government funding bid. Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member overseeing seafronts and Tropicana investment, shared with Bristol Post: “The submission of this planning application marks a key milestone in the life of the Tropicana.”
He elaborated that the proposed designs align with the vision to establish a “to create a fit-for-purpose entertainment venue”. By reinventing The Tropicana, the council aims to “create new jobs, support local businesses and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future”.
Solomon added, “We want to attract higher profile acts, culture and entertainment events to elevate Weston’s place within the regional, national and international scene.”
In February, it was announced that the levelling-up fund allocated to Weston would be put to good use in sprucing up the entrance to Grove Park and giving the park’s buildings a new lease of life. The funds will also go towards enhancing the food and drink offerings at Marine Lake and even making way for outdoor swimming.
These projects are all part of a broader vision for Weston, centred around the themes of living, learning and lifestyle, as outlined in the case study.
But that’s not all there’s talk of a brand-new waterpark coming to town, repurposing the Old Town Quarry as a performance space, and breathing new life into Birnbeck Pier. Known locally as the ‘Old Pier’, this unique structure is the only one in the UK that connects to an island, leading out to the rugged three-acre Birnbeck Island.
However, since 1994, the pier has been off-limits to the public and is listed on the Buildings at Risk register. It suffered further damage during the storms of 2015, but the council managed to secure ownership in July 2023.
The council has pledged to work hand in hand with the RNLI to reopen the pier to the public “as quickly as possible” and restore the RNLI’s “vital lifesaving service from the island”. The main restoration efforts are set to kick off in spring.
A hefty sum of over £25 million has been raised for the project, including a generous £10 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded in October.
Weston also boasts a Grand Pier, complete with food and drink outlets, an arcade, rides, and attractions. The town is home to the world’s largest helicopter museum, offers a variety of adrenaline-pumping sports, hosts a sand sculpture festival, the Weston-super-Mare Carnival, and a beach rugby and netball festival.